Chigufe

Edge-blown, globular vessel flute made of a dried and hollow fruit shell (Strychnos spinosa Lam.) with two fingerholes. Though harmless now as musical instrument, the fruit from the species of the "Strychnos" genus is well-known to contain seeds with toxic strychnine. This example was probably collected in the wild and made by the donor, Absure Musindo, a student at the Zimbabwe College of Music. Instrument known locally as Chigufe (singular) and Zvigufe (plural). The tree is known as Muzhumu and Mutamba (Umkhemeswane and Ndebele languages).